Wayne Woodraska

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Obituary

Wayne Woodraska, 79, of Kimball, SD, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Aurora Brule Care and Rehab in White Lake, SD, with family at his side. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Friday, June 27, 2025, at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Kimball. Committal Service will follow at St. Margaret Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, June 26, from 5-7:00 PM at the Church with a 6:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Wayne Raymond Woodraska was born on September 16, 1945, to Raymond and Ada (Konechne) Woodraska at Mitchell, SD.  He attended Brule County rural schools through the 8th grade and attended and graduated from Kimball High School in 1963 as a National Honor Society member and one of the co-valedictorians of his class.  He attended South Dakota State University and graduated in 1967 with a degree in agriculture education.  After graduating he returned to Kimball to farm before starting his teaching career at Smith School for 4 years.  He married Patricia (Pat) Korzan on July 8, 1972, left teaching and ran a retail hardware store in Kimball for almost 20 years.  He then returned to teaching and taught 1 year at Lyman High School and then returned to the Kimball School District where he taught science and served as Computer Tech Coordinator.   He continued to promote the school science fair, helping multiple students reach the national competition.  Wayne retired from teaching in 2008.

Wayne has been a vital part of the community through his leadership roles in the Knights of Columbus, including holding many local and state offices including the local leader (Grand Knight) and the state leader (State Deputy).  He served as president of the Brule County Historical Society, has served on the Kimball Center Board, worked as Tractor Museum Volunteer, and produced the Kimball Knews Klips for almost 16 years. He joined the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department in 1984, became an EMT in 1992, and retired in March 2025 after 33 years of service.  He was also active in the Jaycees, Kimball Community Club and chaired the Kimball Centennial  Committee in 1980.

He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He taught many of them to play cribbage and he taught him so well that they often could win the contest with him.  He was a long-time Vikings fan and made several trips to Minneapolis with kids and grandkids to watch them play.  He enjoyed music, loved to hear his kids and grandkids sing and was a great polka dancer.

He and his wife Pat have 7 children: Michael (Lisa) Woodraska [Rita, Grace, James, and Hope] of Valentine, NE; Robert Woodraska of Sioux Falls, SD; Mary (Mark) Gerwer [Philip (Hannah) and Dorian, Andrew, Kathryn, Rachel, Christine, and Abigail] of Aberdeen, SD; John (Tara) Woodraska [Aaden, Elena, and Ivy] of Crooks, SD; Joe (Megan) Woodraska [Duncan, Moxie, and Casper] of Sioux Falls, SD; Mark (Danielle) Woodraska [Elva and William] of Sioux Falls, SD; and Daniel Woodraska of Charleston, SC.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother James Woodraska.

Memorials can be directed to the Kimball Senior Center, Kimball Tractor Musuem, or Brule County Historical Society.

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